Desiring Christ: The Quest for Ultimate Joy

Devotional

Day 1: The Infinite Chasm of Joy

True spiritual joy is found in being satisfied with God, not merely in escaping pain. This joy requires a supernatural encounter with Christ, transforming our fear into a deep love for Him. Many people live their lives trying to avoid negative consequences, such as the fear of hell, but this is not the same as experiencing the profound joy that comes from a relationship with Jesus. The joy that Jesus offers is not just about avoiding punishment; it is about finding true satisfaction and delight in His presence. This joy is a gift from God and is far greater than any temporary pleasure the world can offer.

C.S. Lewis's analogy of making mud pies in the slum versus enjoying a holiday at the sea illustrates this well. We often settle for lesser pleasures when infinite joy in God is available. We are called to embark on a quest to maximize our desire for God, seeking the ultimate joy that only He can provide. This joy is transformative and liberating, freeing us from the fear of punishment and filling us with a deep love for Jesus. [02:58]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: Think about a time when you settled for a lesser pleasure instead of seeking joy in God. How can you begin to seek the ultimate joy that only He can provide today?

Day 2: The Quest for Ultimate Joy

Our problem is not that we desire happiness too much, but that we settle for too little. We are called to pursue the infinite joy that God offers, rejecting the lesser pleasures of this world. This quest for maximum joy in God is essential for a fulfilling Christian life. Many people mistakenly believe that desiring happiness is wrong, but the issue lies in where we seek that happiness. True and lasting joy can only be found in God, and He invites us to pursue this joy with all our hearts.

The pursuit of lesser pleasures often leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled. In contrast, the joy that comes from a relationship with God is deep, lasting, and transformative. It changes our perspective on life and helps us to see everything in light of His goodness and love. This quest for ultimate joy is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of growing closer to God and experiencing His presence in our lives. [05:22]

Psalm 37:4 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Reflection: Identify one lesser pleasure you often turn to for happiness. How can you replace it with a pursuit of joy in God this week?

Day 3: Christ as the Ultimate Treasure

To live is Christ and to die is gain. This means experiencing Christ as our ultimate treasure in both life and death. When Christ is our supreme value, everything else falls into its proper place, liberating us from worldly attachments and preparing us for eternity. The apostle Paul exemplified this attitude in his life, declaring that his greatest desire was to know Christ and to make Him known. This perspective transforms how we view everything from material possessions to relationships.

When Christ is our ultimate treasure, we are freed from the bondage of worldly cravings and can live with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own; it requires a deep, personal encounter with Jesus. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we begin to see the true value of knowing Christ and the incomparable joy that comes from being in His presence. [11:37]

Matthew 13:44 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 4: Transformation Through Divine Grace

Achieving a Philippians 1:21 heart is not a human endeavor but a divine miracle. We must cry out to God to make Himself supremely valuable to us. This transformation requires a deep, personal encounter with God, much like Paul's experience on the road to Damascus. It is only through God's grace that we can come to see Him as our ultimate treasure and experience the joy that comes from knowing Him.

This transformation is a process that involves daily surrender and a willingness to let go of our own desires and plans. As we seek God and ask Him to reveal Himself to us, He begins to change our hearts and minds, aligning our desires with His. This divine grace empowers us to live a life that is centered on Christ and filled with His joy and peace. [19:27]

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's transforming grace in your life. How can you seek a deeper encounter with Him today?

Day 5: Living a Christ-Centered Life

A life centered on Christ is marked by joy, peace, humility, and a passion for souls. It involves a daily surrender to God, finding our ultimate satisfaction in Him. This life is not without suffering, but it is filled with the power and presence of Christ, making it a life of true gain. The apostle Paul demonstrated this in his life, showing that even in the midst of trials and hardships, he found joy and contentment in Christ.

Living a Christ-centered life means prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else. It means seeking His will in every aspect of our lives and trusting Him to guide us. This life is characterized by a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that we are living for something greater than ourselves. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we begin to experience the true joy and peace that comes from being in His presence. [32:50]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to center your life more fully on Christ? How can you make this a daily habit?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound difference between merely avoiding hell and truly desiring to be with Jesus. This distinction is crucial because genuine joy in God transcends the fear of punishment. We delved into the idea that our desires for happiness are often too weak, settling for lesser pleasures when infinite joy in God is available. C.S. Lewis's analogy of making mud pies in the slum versus enjoying a holiday at the sea illustrates this well. We are called to embark on a quest to maximize our desire for God, seeking the ultimate joy that only He can provide.

Paul's life exemplifies this quest. His declaration in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," encapsulates his passion for exalting Christ in both life and death. This attitude stems from a deep, personal experience of Christ as his ultimate treasure. Paul’s perspective on life and death is revolutionary; he sees dying as gain because it means being with Christ, which is far better than anything this world offers.

We also examined the practical implications of having a "Philippians 1:21 heart." Such a heart treasures Christ above all else, transforming how we view everything from material possessions to relationships. This transformation liberates us from worldly cravings and prepares us for both life and death. Paul’s life, filled with joy, peace, and a passion for souls, serves as a model for us. He teaches us that true satisfaction and ultimate gain are found in Christ alone.

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Key Takeaways

1. Centered Life**: A life centered on Christ is marked by joy, peace, humility, and a passion for souls. It involves a daily surrender to God, finding our ultimate satisfaction in Him. This life is not without suffering, but it is filled with the power and presence of Christ, making it a life of true gain. [32:50]
### [32:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Introduction: Life is Hard, Jesus is Lord
[02:07] - The Infinite Chasm of Joy
[04:27] - Settling for Lesser Pleasures
[05:22] - The Quest for Ultimate Joy
[06:34] - Joy in God's Presence
[07:22] - Biblical Support for Ultimate Joy
[08:38] - God is Most Glorified in Us
[09:40] - Paul's Passion for Exalting Christ
[10:59] - To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
[12:29] - Understanding Paul's Perspective
[14:06] - The Gain in Dying
[16:12] - Christ as the Supreme Value
[17:21] - The Desire to Depart and Be with Christ
[18:22] - Satisfaction in God
[20:52] - The Quest for Ultimate Satisfaction
[22:04] - Exalting Christ in Life
[23:43] - Experiencing Christ as Gain Now
[25:17] - Transformation and Liberty
[27:29] - The Gains of Being with Christ
[30:50] - Christ as the Ultimate Gain
[32:29] - Living a Christ-Centered Life
[34:30] - Life of Suffering and Conflict
[36:25] - Passion for Souls
[38:33] - Life of Contentment and High Thinking
[39:58] - Life of Future Glory
[41:09] - Living by Grace and Supernatural Power
[42:06] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean when he says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"? How does this reflect his attitude towards life and death? ([11:37])
According to Psalm 16:11, where is fullness of joy found, and what does this imply about our relationship with God?
In Matthew 13:44, why does the man sell all he has to buy the field with the hidden treasure? What does this parable suggest about the value of the kingdom of heaven?

Interpretation Questions

How does Paul's declaration in Philippians 1:21 challenge common perspectives on life and death? What does it reveal about his ultimate priorities? ([11:37])
The sermon mentioned that our desires for happiness are often too weak, settling for lesser pleasures. How does Psalm 16:11 support this idea? ([06:34])
The parable in Matthew 13:44 describes a man who joyfully sells everything for a hidden treasure. How does this illustrate the concept of Christ as our ultimate treasure? ([26:28])
The sermon emphasized the need for a supernatural encounter with Christ to transform our desires. How does this align with Paul's experience on the road to Damascus? ([19:27])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are settling for "mud pies" instead of seeking the "holiday at the sea" that God offers? What steps can you take to pursue greater joy in God? ([04:27])
Paul viewed dying as gain because it meant being with Christ. How does this perspective influence your view of life and death? Are there fears or attachments you need to surrender to God? ([14:06])
The sermon mentioned that a "Philippians 1:21 heart" transforms how we view material possessions and relationships. How can you begin to treasure Christ above all else in your daily life? ([24:18])
The pastor encouraged us to cry out to God to make Himself supremely valuable to us. How can you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine? What specific changes might you expect to see in your life as a result? ([20:52])
The sermon highlighted the importance of living a Christ-centered life marked by joy, peace, humility, and a passion for souls. Identify one area where you can grow in these qualities. What practical steps will you take this week? ([32:50])
Consider the idea that true satisfaction and ultimate gain are found in Christ alone. How can you remind yourself of this truth when faced with worldly temptations or challenges? ([25:17])
The pastor shared personal examples of how prioritizing Christ can positively impact relationships. How can you apply this principle in your own relationships, whether with family, friends, or colleagues? ([16:12])

Sermon Clips

1. "There's an infinite qualitative chasm between those who are glad, happy, and joyful that they're not going to hell. And those that are glad, happy, and joyful that they're also going to be with Jesus forever. There's this infinite chasm between those two groups of people because joy in Jesus, joy in God is not the same as being glad that you don't have to go to hell. There's nothing spiritual about not wanting pain. There's everything spiritual about being satisfied with God." [02:07] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I'm suggesting that the problem with the world is not that people want to be happy but they don't want nearly enough to be happy. Our problem is not that we want to be happy but we're settling for making mud pies in the slums because we can't imagine. Imagine what is meant by a holiday at the sea. That's the problem with the world. Jesus thinks your desire and my desire to be happy is too weak and that we're settling for mud pies." [04:27] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I believe the quest that God is calling us to get on or continue on is a serious quest, because if we don't delight in God, enjoy God, be satisfied in God above all things, then actually what we're doing is we're dishonoring God. John Piper popularized this phrase. He wrote, He has a whole book called Desiring God, has a whole ministry called Desiring God. I read it years ago. It's transformed my life. I eat up what he teaches on it, because it's all about joy, and I'm all into joy. I want to be full and overflowing with joy." [08:38] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Worshipping Christ above all is wanting Him above all. And it's critical because to have an authentic, okay, hear me, to have an authentic desire that Christ is more of a treasure than our family or more of a treasure than finishing our career or more to be desired than anything supremely valuable in our inner experience. I want to just say that's impossible. It's a work of divine, regenerating, sanctifying grace. In other words, we can't make that happen, but God has supernatural power." [18:52] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We have to get serious about this. It's not going to happen accidentally. We have to go hard after God. What do you mean go hard after God? Going hard to work for God? No. Go hard after God. Drink God. Savor God. Be satisfied in God." [21:32] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "What does Paul mean for me to live as Christ? Here's the way he unpacks for me to live as Christ. Philippians 3.8. I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Not just when I'm in the hospital bed about to die that I consider everything a loss. But now in life as I'm living in real time I consider everything a loss for whom for whose sake I have lost all things I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ." [23:10] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "When Christ becomes our treasure television is not viewed the same. The internet is not viewed the same. Money is not viewed the same. Hobbies and sports and material possessions are not viewed the same. Family is not viewed the same because inside there's been a revolution of valuing and treasuring and cherishing and enjoying and being pleased and being satisfied. Everything changes because Christ becomes the center and he becomes our ultimate treasure." [24:18] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "How can we get to the place where we're ready to die so that we can see it as gain? We have to have this transformation take place. There's an amazing liberty that comes from this miracle on the heart that Paul experienced. Paul's teaching us about. Others have experienced as well. I was just reading from Hebrews how many in the New Testament era were, says they confiscated their property and to them it was a joyful experience because Christ was the center of their life." [25:17] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The whole human race is, homesick for God. We want something that won't be taken from us. The whole race is homesick for God without even knowing it. And when we go home to Christ, there will be a contentment beyond any sense of security and peace we've ever known on this earth. And any fond memory you can dredge up from the past won't even hold a candle to what God has prepared for us." [30:23] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "This life, I want you to know, is not all roses. It's also a life of suffering and conflict. So let's just get that straight. Life is hard. Philippians 1, 29, for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. It's also a life of humility. I look forward, when I come back, Beth and I are going to, I'm going to help marry my niece in Ohio. And I'm going to go visit my mom in Illinois." [34:07] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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